Apparatus for making plats



P 1951 .1. B. SCHEEL APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLATS Filed Nov. 10, 1948 Patented Sept. 4, 1951 2,588,910 APPARATUS FOR MAKING rrlA'rs John B. Scheel, Washington, D. 0.

Application November 10, 1948, Serial No. 59,226

Claims.

This invention relates to textile plats and to a method and device for making them.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for making plats utilizing strips of textile material such as may be obtained from rags and remnants.

Another object is to provide such a device which is simple as to its parts, inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight and easy to operate so that it can be successfully used by children and conv-alescents as well as by skilled artisans.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for making plats of various shapes, sizes, and stiffness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for forming plats that can be joined together by sewing or the like to fabricate rugs, mats, coverlets, or that can be provided with an integral backing for such uses or for use as buttons or badges.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plat composed of a strip of textile material wound in a substantially spiral configuration.

Another object is to provide a plat made up of end to end sewed strips of textile material wound in a generally spiral configuration having a backing composed of a fabric material or the like,

with stitches binding together the convolutions of the plat and the backing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of winding strips of textile material into a spiral plat.

Another object is to provide a method of joining the convolutions of a spirally wound plat together while maintaining the shape of the plat.

These and other objects and advantages are provided. by: a plat comprising a strip of textile material having substantially uniform width, the strips being disposed in a closely wound substantially spiral configuration, and means binding together the convolutions thereof to form a self-supporting unit; a method of making a plat comprising winding a strip of textile material of substantially uniformwidth into a substantially spiral form having contiguous convolutions and binding together the convolutions thereof while maintaining the shape of the plat; and a device for forming plats, as by winding strips of textile material in generally spiral configuration and thereafter sewing the wound strips together, which comprises a hub portion having an axial length substantially equal to the central thickness of the plat to be formed, a pair of end plates carried by the hub portion, the end platesbe spaced apart to provide a zone substantially defining the cross-sectional shapeof the plat, at least one of the end plates having an opening therethrough positioned outside of the hub area through which joining means may be applied to the convolutions of the plat, and means releasably securing at least one of the end plates to the hub portion.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the illustrative embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view illustrating a platforming device in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional view of .the device of Fig. 1 in assembled condition;

" Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified form of the device of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a side view of still another form of the device of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a mat formed from four plats made in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, Illa and lllb are disc-like end plates which may be flat as shown or concave or convex. Concave or convex discs are used when finished plats are desiredhaving cross sections greater or smaller at their hubs than at their peripheries; These plates are cut or molded from any suitable material such as wood, metal, paper, glass or plastic, the preferred material being a transparent plastic such as methylmethacrylate resin. Plate Illa is provided with an integral boss Ila and handle l2a and with a central hub portion [3a having an axial length substantially equal to the central thickness of the plat to be formed. The outer surface I la of hub 13a may be roughened as by knurling to form a friction-bearing surface that is securely gripped by a strip of ma terial thus facilitating the winding of strips of textile material thereon. In the face of plate Illa a radial sewing slot l5a, extending from the hub l3a to the periphery of the plate, and. a finger compression hole Ilia are formed. The hub l3a and boss I la are transversely drilled and threaded to receive a machine screw 25.

The plate lllb has a similarly drilled centrally located boss I lb, a corresponding sewing slot Hub.

and finger hole lib.

The plat forming device is assembled for use by inserting the screw 25 through the drilled boss llb 'of plate lllb and screwing it into the hub and boss lla and l3a of disc Illa. Before the bolt is tightened the'radial sewing slots l5a and l5b are aligned.

In the past "rag rugs have been fabricated of textile strips by various methods which often requiredconsiderable skill, an expensive mechanical apparatus or a bulky frame or loom.

Rugs or mats have been made by using end to end sewed strips or remnants as woof or filling with a suitable yarn as a warp. They have also been produced by braiding strips of fabric sewed end to end, the resulting braid then being arranged and sewed into the desired shape and form. The hooked rug requires a base fabric through which the strips of material are hooked or interlaced.

In constructing plats for the fabrication of rugs and the like in accordance with the principles of the invention, textile strips are cut to the desired width from rags or remnants. The width of the strips is dependent upon the length of the hub l3a as this hub substantially defines the thickness of the plat 'to be formed. The strips may be sewed end to end before they are wound upon the hub or they may be wound successively one after the other. In either case a tightly wound substantially spiral configuration is formed consisting of a strip or strips of textile material. If a specific color array is desired the plates I a and lb should preferably be transparent allowing the operator to observe the growth of the convolutions of the plat. When the diameter of the plat for a given color has been reached,- strips of the next succeeding color are then applied.

While winding the strips of material upon the hub the roughened surface I 4a helps to prevent the material from slipping. Where a tighter plat is desired than the roughened surface Ma will allow, without slippage, pressure may be applied convoluted textile strips by sewing at an angle to the edges of the spirally wound strips thereby binding them together.

Having applied the desired number of stitch lines 0A to the plat, bolt 25 is removed from hub Ba and boss llb, end plate lflb is removed, and the stitched plat is slipped from the hub. It is then preferable to insert and bind a textile core or wadding 26 into the space left in the plat upon its removal from the hub l3a. This core forms the nucleus of the finished plat.

The finished plat may be used to fabricate rugs or mats, which, as shown for example in Fig. 5, may consist of four plats 20, 2 I, 22, and 23 joined I together at their points of tangency. Plat 23 is of a modified form. It is constructed by cutting a disc of material 23a preferably slightly smaller in diameter than the plates a or lllb. This disc may be cut from such materials as textile fabric, stiff paper or cardboard, or wire mesh, or the stiffening disc may be a combination of such materials such as a wire mesh with a fabric backing. The disc is placed upon hub Ba and against one of the inside faces of either of the end plates prior to winding the textile strips upon the hub as hereinbeiore described. During the stitching of the convolutions of the plat this disc 23a is stitched firmly to one side of the plat, giving the latter added strength and rigidity.

The plat forming device shown in Fig. 3 has a modified plate I00 and hub l3c. The sewing slot He is V-shaped having reinforcing cross members or ribs I20. The plate Hlc is also provided with a series of small borings llc which are used as finger holes when applying pressure to the plates. Successive strips may be inserted through these holes leaving a small tab or end to be held until a turn or two has been made on the hub or other strips have been rolled on. The elliptical hub l3c is used when making elliptical plats.

In the device shown in Fig. 4 the sewing slots lld consist of diverging spiral openings extending from the outer extremity of the hub lid to the periphery of the plate Hid. Within the diverging spiral slots lid are reinforcing cross members or ribs l3d.

In making plats using the device of the present invention, the strip material is wound with sufficient tension to cause the edges of the plat to exert substantial outward pressure on the end plates of the device. This pressure is maintained during the sewing operation. Thereafter, when the finished plat is removed from the device, is has an inherent springiness tending to restore its original shape quickly after deformation. The plats are thus well suited for fabricating floor mats and floor coverings.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides a textile plat and a method and device for making the plate whereby the aims, objects, and advantages of the invention are fully accomplished.

I claim:

1. A device for forming plats, by winding strips of rag and the like ingenerally spiral convolutions and thereafter joining the wound convolutions of the strips together, which comprises a hub portion, a pair of end plates carried by said hub portion, said end plates being spaced apart to provide a zone substantially defining the cross-sectional shape of the plat, at least one of said end plates having an opening therethrough positioned radially outward of the hub area for applying joining means to the convolutions of the plat, at least one of said end plates being transparent, and means releasably securing at least one of said end plates to said hub portion.

2. A device for forming plats as defined in claim 1 wherein the opening for applying joining means to the convolutions of the plat is a radial slot extending toward the periphery of the end plate.

3. A device for forming plats as defined in claim 1 wherein the opening for applying joining means to the convolutions of the plat is a diverging slot extending toward the periphery of the end plate.

4. A device for forming plats as defined in claim 3 including plate stiffening members extending transversely across the diverging slot.

-5.' A device for forming plats by winding strips of textile material in generally spiral convolutions and thereafter joining the wound convolupositionedpradially outward of the hub area for applying joining means to the convolutions of the plat and another opening positioned between the hub and the periphery of the plate for applying finger pressure to urge the plat into frictional engagement with at least one of said end plates, and means releasably securing at least one of said end plates to said hubportion.

6. A device for forming plats, by winding strips of textile material in generally spiral convolutions and thereafter joining the wound convolutions of the strips together, which comprises a hub portion having an axial length substantially equal to the central thickness of the plat to be formed, said hub having a roughened surface to minimize slipping during the winding of said strips, a pair of end plates carried by said hub portion, said end plates being spaced apart to provide a zone substantially defining the crosssectional shape of the plat, at least one of said end plates having an opening therethrough posi-' tioned radially outward of the hub area for applying joining means to the convolutions of the plat, said opening being a radial slot extendin to the periphery of said end plate and another opening of substantially circular shape for applying pressure to urge the plat into frictional engagement with the end plates, and means releasably securing at least one of said plates to said hub portion. r

'7. A device for forming plats, by winding strips of rag and the like in generally spiral convolutions and thereafter joining the wound convolutions of the strips together, which comprises an end plate, a hub, a second end plate, and means releasably securing said end plates to said hub whereby said end plates are in face to face spaced relation to each other to provide a zone substantially defining the cross-sectional shape of the plat, at least one of said end plates having an opening therethrough positioned radially outwardly of the hub area for applying joining means to the convolutions of the plat and at least one of said end plates being transparent.

8. A device for forming plats as defined in claim '7 wherein the opening for applying joining means to the convolutions o! the plat is a.

V-shaped slot extending toward the periphery of the end plate.

hub portion, a pair of end plates carried by said hub portion, said end plates being independently rotatable relative to each other and being spaced apart to. provide a zone substantially defining the cross-sectional shape of the plat, at least one of said plates having an opening therethrough positioned radially outwardly of the hub area for applying joining means to the convolutions of the plat, said opening being formed in said plate without substantially reducing the surface thereof for contact with said convolutions of the plat to provide portions at either side of said opening extendingabout said hub capable of resisting the pressure of said wound plat, and means releasably securing at least one of said end plates to said hub portion.

10. A device for forming plats as defined in claim 1 wherein the opening for applying joining means to the convolutions of the plat is a substantially diverging spiral slot extending toward the periphery of the end plate.

' JOHN B. SCHEEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

